Automatic guard for elevators.



F. JIRA. v AUTOMATIC GUARD FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1911.

1,008,917. Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

FREDERICK JIR-A, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC GUARD FOR ELEVATORS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK JIRA, subj ect of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary,

residing in the city and count-y of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Guards for Elevators, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to automatically operable gates for guarding sidewalk elevators.

The invention has for its object the provision of a reliable, automatically operable, substantial apparatus for preventing accidents around the openings provided for sidewalk or other elevators.

The invention consists of the parts and the combination and construction of parts ashereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section through the automatic gates and elevator. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view showing in elevation the gate-operating mechanism.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, 2 represents a form of cover for elevator openings when the same are erected in sidewalks and other places. Transversely disposed between hinged cover sections 2 are vertically movable grated guards 3, forming a means for protecting the end opening between the ends of the cover 2. When the cover, which may be in two parts, is in the open position, the guards 3 are projected vertically upwardly automatically by a suitable form of mechanism here represented as including gears 4 secured upon shafts 5, which gears mesh with racks 6 attached to the frames of the guards 3-3.

Mounted upon each of the shafts which are arranged parallelly beneath the sidewalk or superstructure indicated at A, are drums 7, upon which may wind flexible connections 8, having suspended from their lower ends counterweights 9, sufiiciently heavy to actuate the guards 3.

The normal relation of the cover members 2 and the end closures or guards 3 is indicated in Fig. 1, and the guards 3 are projected upwardly automatically as the sections of the cover 2 are elevated.

Vertically movable in the opening formed in the sidewalk or structure A, is a suitably constructed elevator car 10 guided along Specification of Letters Patent.

suitable ways 11, and which is provided at opposite edges with dogs 12, adapted to en- Patented NOV. 14:, 1911.

Application filed April 22, 1911. Serial No. 622,743.

gage cam arms 13, mounted upon pivots let, and which have locking ears 15 engaging inclined projections 16 formed upon slides 17. The slides l7 are guided in suitable-bearings 18 and are provided at their'lower ends with pins or studs 19, upon which are slidable the short ends of levers 20, fulcrumed at 21. The ends of the levers 20 engaging the pins 19 are slotted, as at 22,to permit the levers to oscillate upon their fulcrums 21, and thus actuate gear segments 23 formed on the opposite ends of the levers 20, and which are in engagement with pinions 24 on the shafts 5.

i In operation, as the elevator car 10 moves upwardly the dogs'12 will engage theirrespective cams 13 and swing the locking ears 15 outof engagement with the projections 16 of the slides 17. Immediately following the release of the locking ears 15, projections 25 arranged in a lower plane than the dog 12 and attached to than the dog 12 and attached. to the elevator car 10, move into engagement with lugs 26 the elevator formed on the upper ends of the slides 17 .sothatv as the elevator 10 continues its upward movement the slides 17 will be lifted and the levers 20 rocked about their fulcrums so that the segmental racks 23 will actuate shafts 5, thus revolving the master gears 4:, which, through the instrumentalities of the racks 6, results in the depression or lowering of.the end guards or gates 3-3.

The gates 3 will have been moved to a position so thattheir upper edges are below the level of the sidewalk or structure A by the time the upper surface or floor of the elevator car 10 becomes even with the same. As the elevator is lowered, the weights 9 automatically actuate, through means of the shafts 5 and the master gears 4:, the gates 3.

For the purpose of restraining the gates 3 in their lowermost position when the elevator car 10 is to be depressed for the last time during a certain operation, or for the last time during the day, I provide latches 27 pivoted at 28 above the upper ends of the slides 17 and which latches are adapted to be tilted beneath the transverse projections 26 on the upper ends of the slides 17, thus preventing the weights 9 from pulling the gates 33 upwardly, as they would do if the latch devices were not interposed to prevent the downward movement of each of the slides 17 as the elevator car descends. Preferably the latches 27 are provided with long arms 29 which project slightly upwardly when the latches 27' are turned down to retain the slides 17 in their uppermost positions so that when the sectional covers 2 are lowered they will strike the upwardly projecting arms 29 of the latches 27 and automatically throw the latches backwardly to release the slides. 17. This is a very important feature inasmuch as it makes the unlatching of the gates automatic so that they can instantly project upwardly between the ends of the cover 2 when the sections are first opened.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. The combination with an elevator car, of a cover for the elevator opening, gates transversely disposed between the ends of the cover, means for automatically projecting the gates upwardly, and means to lock the gates against upward movement, said last named means being arranged in the path of closing movement of the said cover.

2. The combination with an elevator car, of a covering for the elevator opening, gates transversely disposed between the ends of the cover, counterweighted shafts having connection with the gates for automatically projecting the latter upwardly under actuation of the counterweights, and car actuated means having connection with said shafts to actuate the same in opposition to the said counterweights.

3. The combination with an elevator car, of a cover for the elevator opening, gates transversely disposed between the ends of the cover, means for automatically projecting the gates upwardly, said means including counterweights connected to the gates, and mechanism operable by the elevator car to depress the gates, said mechanism 'includ ing levers, pinions and shafts carrying the said counterweights.

4:. The combination with an elevator car, of a cover for the elevator opening, gates transversely disposed between the ends of the cover, means for automatically projecting the gates upwardly, said means including counterweights connected to the gates, mechanism operable by the elevator car to depress the gates, said mechanism including levers, pinions and shafts carrying the said counterweights, and locking members controlling the levers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

F. E. MAYNARD, JOHN H. HERRING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

